Range View

While this hotel was in the current Highfields, the Range View [1] does have a link to Cabarlah. It was built by Archibald Bearkley on “Old Davey Land”. On 24th May 1892 he applied for a licence for Davey's Homestead (portion 48 near Koojarewon) “The said Premises are now about to be erected”.  On the 24 Nov it was advertised “to let by tender or lease for 3 to 5 years the New and Commodious Hotel now in course of erection”.  On 26 Nov 1892 Archie applied to build an entrance to his premises on Old Davey Land. 

The hotel had various licensees from then till 1900 when Bearkley (briefly) had the licence again. The licence was cancelled in June 1938.

• 1893/4 Fanny F Hannigan

• 1894 Geo Hanlon

• 1894/95 Mary Crighton

•  1895/97 Sara O'Connor

  • Sarah appears a few times in the history of pubs in the area. A John O’Connor dies suddenly in August 1890 at his residence at the Bowen Hotel (Metropole in Toowoomba). In October, she places an advertisement: “WANTED KNOWN that Mrs. O’Connor will continue to keep the Hotel Business of her late Husband, John O'Connor and, by still keeping, as usual, the very best Brands of Spirits, Beers, and Ales in the Market (English and Colonial), trusts to receive the Same patronage accorded to her late husband Superior Stables. Good loose boxes. Terms, Strictly Moderate. Two minutes walk from Railway Station. Good Table. S. O'Connor, Proprietors. She is still there in 1893. She then appears as the licensee of the Rangeview from 1895-97 (widow with one child), then for the Railway Hotel at Cabarlah for 4 years; and then for the Hampton Hotel from Jan 1901 – Sept 1902. A Sarah O’Connor is admitted to the Toowoomba hospital on 21 March 1910 and dies on 3 May the same year aged 66. 

• 1897/8 Dan Horrigan (applied for a licence in 1893) (March 1898 "Furniture Sale at Range View Hotel, Koojarewon");  I, DANIEL HORRIGAN, of Koojarewon, being the holder of a Licensed Victualler's License under the said Act, for the premises known as The Range View Hotel, and situate at Koojarewon, aforesaid, in the said District, hereby give notice that I intend to apply at the next Quarterly Meeting of the said Licensing Authority to trans-er the said License to Archibald Bearkley, of Koojarewon. And I, the said ARCHIBALD BEARKLEY hereby give notice that it is my intention to apply that such transfer may be granted to me. I am married, having a wife and five children. I have held a license before. Dated this 14th day of March, 1898")

• 1898/99  John Smith, "of Toowoomba, in the Colony of Queensland, Upholsterer, hereby give notice that I intend to apply, at the next Quarterly Meeting of the Licensing Authority, for a Licensed Victualler's License for the sale of fermented and spirituous liquors in the house and appurtenances thereto belonging, situated at or near Koojarewon in the said colony and known by the name of the Range View Hotel. The house contains three sitting rooms and eight bedrooms, exclusive of those required for my own family. Only one bar is intended to be kept and there is stabling accommodation for four horses. The premises are rented from Mary Bearkley, and are now unoccupied, and not at present licensed, and which I intend to keep as an Inn or Public house, under the sign of the Rangeview Hotel. I am married, having a wife and five children. I have not held a license before in Queensland. Dated this fourteenth day of June, 1898".

• (June 1899 "A sale by auction of general furniture will be held at the Range View Hotel on Monday week by T. J. Allen & Co The lease and good will of the hotel is also for sale.")

• 1899/1900 Bernard McKewin (in 1899 he requested "that the trees on the road in front of the Range View Hotel to be removed. No action taken, but applicant was granted permission to remove them at his own expense."

• 1913/1915 J.A. Cassidy

• 1917 "I Mary Agnes Coveny, being the holder of a Licenced Victualer's License under the said Act, for The premises known as RANGE VIEW HOTEL and situated at Highfields, in the said District, hereby give notice that I intend to apply at the next Monthly Sittings of the said Court to transfer, the said License to Lillian EMILY BRAY, wife of William Bray of Toowoomba I am married having a husband and no children I have not held a License before. Dated this Twenty-ninth day of November, 1917." (there is a photo of the hotel with her name (M.A. Coveney) on the front)

• Jan 1918 HOTEL AND BILLIARD LICENSE. Application for the transfer of the-license of the Rangeview Hotel, Highfields, from Mary Agnes Coveney to Emily Lillian Bray. (there is a photo of the hotel with her name (L. E. Bray") on the front)

• 1919 PC Bell (a renewal of licence)  "LILLIAN EMILY BRAY, wife of William Bray, being the holder of a Licensed Victualler's License under the said Act for the premises known as Range View Hotel, and situated at Range View, Highfields, in the said District, hereby give notice that I intend to apply, at the next Quarterly Sittings of the said Court, to transfer the said License to FREDERICK BELL, of Toowoomba, Agent. And I, the said FREDERICK BELL, hereby give notice that it is my intention to apply that such transfer may be granted to me. I am married, having a wife and no children. I have held a License before."

• 1929 for sale

• 1938 Licence cancelled.

[1] There was a reference to a "Rangeview" hotel closer into to Toowoomba, but this was the old Blue Mountain hotel which was situated in the now Murphys Creek Rd just east of the current Skyline Drive. The name and licence then transferred to the current Harlaxton location.